Turning The Gestures of Everyday Life Into Art
- The goal of this piece is to mimic the specific motions and behaviors that identify each person. Performing a gesture or movement that is not natural to the performer was one of the difficulties due to the fact that personal movements, tics, or unconscious gestures are frequently formed over time as a self-soothing, repetitive action. This performance has an added benefit in that it offers an interesting way of studying habitual movements from the perspective of someone who has seen them externally and is attempting to recreate them consciously rather than in the subconscious state in which they were first noticed.
- The examples in Heitmann’s study where people kept the gestures of deceased loved ones struck me as particularly moving. Small details about the deceased gradually disappear from memory, but witnessing these movements, which may seem insignificant to others, can feel like a last glimpse of them and provide a very intimate opportunity to say goodbye. For example, the young Belgian woman’s mother and boyfriend made sure that a piece of her lived on in the archive by donating movements on her behalf after she passed away. Heitmann also provided secondhand movements that she connects to her father. His tax returns and bank statements were all that were left after his death, creating what she called “a very one-sided picture” of his life. She regained a closer, more personal relationship with him by keeping his gestures, demonstrating how movement may act as a powerful emotional bond with lost loved ones.
- When my girlfriend is intoxicated she starts to blink excessively and the blinking intensifies whenever she tells me a story. Whenever my roommate is at a loss for words or is thinking about something he’ll rub his hair really aggressively and depending on if he’s trying not to laugh or can’t remember something he’ll rub it more aggressively. My younger sister is someone who talks with her hands but depending on how intense or invested she is in what she’s talking about she’ll use her entire body when she does these gestures
Field Trip
At the AGO, walking into the hip-hop culture exhibit, the Air Force 1s made from car parts were the first piece that caught my eye. The intricate design and the way the materials were repurposed complemented each other so well. This piece did a great job of showcasing the connection between sneaker culture and innovation, which really resonates with me.
Another standout was the durag exhibit. It was incredible to see an entire space dedicated to highlighting the cultural significance of durags in Black identity and fashion. The way the installation was presented made it feel immersive, emphasizing how durags have evolved beyond functionality into a symbol of style and empowerment. Both pieces captured key elements of hip-hop culture in a way that felt authentic and impactful.
The first piece that caught my eye was the installation incorporating a bamboo structure. The way the light seeped through created a sense of immersion, making you feel connected to the piece. The addition of pillows was a thoughtful touch, enhancing the comfort and allowing you to fully absorb the soft, calming atmosphere created by the lighting and space.
The second piece was centered around waves, which I found really fascinating. What struck me first were the colored aura panels surrounding it—they stood out as the only source of color in an otherwise completely black room. This contrast made stepping into the space feel like entering a different world, adding to the depth and impact of the artwork.
One Feat Three Ways
One Shot
Loop
Sequence
Filming
“Habituation”
Habituation is the process by which repeated exposure to a stimulus leads to a decreased response over time. In daily life, routines can become so ingrained that we perform them without conscious thought, blurring the line between action and awareness.
What you’re hearing now are the sounds of my daily routine, from brushing my teeth to walking to class, all presented in the order they occur. Layered within this is the same routine reorganized and played in reverse, symbolizing how constant repetition can become mind-numbing, distorting our sense of time and experience
Conceptual Portrait
Your one shot video is my favourite because of the confusion and lack of narrative it brings. I am very intrigued by your choice in poses. To me, they look like the poses of naked baby stone sculptures you find in water fountains. I appreciate how raw Tumi’s struggle seems, and I think the use of a white shirt helps emphasize just how much water is being used. In this case, I think being closer to the backdrop helps your videos as you better understand how much water is used and it also creates an additional piece of live art, similar to an action painting. Zamani wearing a sweater in the sequence video made me very uncomfortable as I can picture myself being drenched in water in such heavy clothing. The water sounds are also great in your videos, the giant thunk of water at the 48 second mark in your sequence video is very satisfying! As for the loop video, I wish I saw Zamani’s eyes to even better understand the struggle you were going through trying not to laugh, I think seeing the full face and full range of emotion would have been great here.
I enjoy the patterns made on the background sheet from the different water splatters. Especially in the one shot video, I think this frames Tumi nicely, like he has a water splatters halo around his body. I found the first two shots of the sequence video so funny! The quantity of water Tumi was trying to catch in his mouth was so small I assumed Zumani would try to catch the same amount, but because of her size she gets a full face of water. I think having the two of you act was a good decision as comedy really comes out in the size difference of you two. I appreciate how you both didn’t attempt to do a deadpan as your reactions make the video so much more interesting. Great work!
I apologize for spelling your name wrong, Zamani, in my previous comment.
I really enjoyed how you guys incorporated humour within all three videos. I could imagine that it was difficult to film without laughing. I like how the water creates a ‘shadow’ behind each pose in the one shot. I also liked the framing in the sequence video. It gives the viewer a good idea of where all the water is going. I almost wish there was more lighting in each of the clips. Overall, great work!
You did a great job of creating humour in these videos! I think the poses that Tumi is doing in the one shot were a good idea, as they make the video quite entertaining. Both the sound of the water splashing, as well as visually being able to see the water hit the background are very effective. However, I do think that the videos would benefit from being a bit more well lit. As for the loop really enjoyed that I wasn’t able to anticipate where the loop was going to end/start again, it made the video more engaging.
These videos all had a good comedic quality to them! I liked the range of moods and tones in everyone’s projects, and yours definitely hit some funny notes, especially in the loop video where there was a lot of tension waiting for the water to come out. I liked the use of the toned backdrop to make the water visible, it showed just how much was getting thrown around. I think my favourite was the water fight sequence; I enjoyed seeing the variety of objects you used to throw water around. Good work!